Methods, systems, and products for demographic discounting

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for providing a discount to a device. One method obtains a location of the device and obtains a demographic indicator associated with the device. The discount is retrieved from memory, and the discount is based on the location and on the demographic indicator. The discount increases as a distance from a reference location increases. The reference location may represent any location, such as a physical location of a merchant. As the distance between the device and the merchant&#39;s physical location increases, the merchant provides a greater discount to entice the customer to travel to the merchant.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.11/095,362, filed Mar. 31, 2005 and entitled “Methods, Systems, andProducts for Distance-Based Discounting,” which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figurescontain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright ownerhas no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patentdocument or the patent disclosure, but otherwise reserves all copyrightswhatsoever.

BACKGROUND

This application generally relates to telecommunications and to dataprocessing. This application, more particularly, relates to locationmonitoring.

Location-based services are known in the art. A wireless device'slocation is determined (usually via triangulation or a globalpositioning system) and then information is provided based on thatlocation. Advertising, for example, can be based on location. Once thelocation of a wireless device is known, local restaurants and merchantsmay wish to provide targeted advertising to the wireless device. Couponsmay even be sent to the wireless device to entice the wireless customerto purchase.

Despite these known location-based services, a fundamental concept haseluded the prior art. As the customer travels further from a merchant,conventional advertising and marketing strategies are less successful. Awireless customer that is located farther away from a merchant is lesslikely to travel and to purchase from the merchant. That is, a wirelesscustomer that is in the vicinity of a merchant's store is more likely torespond to the location-based advertisement. If the wireless customer ispresently located many miles from the merchant, the location-basedadvertisement may not entice the wireless customer to drive to themerchant. What is needed, then, is a strategy for providinglocation-based services that provides a greater enticement depending onthe distance a wireless customer must travel.

SUMMARY

The aforementioned problems, and other problems, are reduced, accordingto the exemplary embodiments, using discounts based on demographics andon geographic location. These discounts vary according to thedemographics of the recipient and according to the distance from areference location. A merchant, for example, may wish to offer discountsto demographically-targeted customers who must travel to the merchant'sphysical location. The merchant wishes to target certain demographicsand to provide a greater discount to those customers who must travel agreater distance. The exemplary embodiments, therefore, describeconcepts that provide a discount based on demographics (e.g., income,age, and/or gender) and on the distance between the customer's deviceand the merchant's physical location. As the customer's device travelsfurther from the reference location (e.g., the merchant's physicallocation), the merchant provides a greater discount. The discount ismeant to entice the customer to travel to the merchant's physicallocation and make purchases. The farther the customer must travel, thegreater the discount the merchant provides.

Distance, however, is only one factor that may determine the appropriatediscount. Once the location of the customer's device is known, theexemplary embodiments may acquire and use other information to determinewhether a discount is necessary or even desirable. The exemplaryembodiments, for example, may use demographic indicators to furtherdetermine whether a discount is desirable. One such demographicindicator, for example, is a billing address associated with the device.If the billing address has some attribute that indicates a wealthydemographic (such as a street address, a city, or a ZIP code), perhapsno discount is needed to entice the customer. Another demographicindicator may be household income. If a household income (associatedwith the wireless device or associated with a subscriber) exceeds somevalue or threshold, then a merchant may decline to offer a discount. Themerchant, similarly, may demographically target subscribers whosehousehold income is below a threshold value. The merchant may evenprovide greater discounts to those demographically-targeted customerswho must travel a greater distance. As the following paragraphs willexplain, the exemplary embodiments may also use historical locationinformation and/or historical purchase information to determine if adiscount is needed. The exemplary embodiments may also use informationrelated to, or extrapolated from, gender, age, employment, education, orother demographic indicators to determine the discount.

According to the exemplary embodiments, methods, systems, and computerprogram products are disclosed for providing a discount to a device. Alocation of the device is obtained. A demographic indicator associatedwith the device is also obtained. The discount is retrieved from memory,and the discount is based on the location and on the demographicindicator. The discount increases as a distance from a referencelocation increases.

Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according toembodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponreview of the following drawings and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computerprogram products be included within this description, be within thescope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanyingclaims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the embodiments ofthe present invention are better understood when the following DetailedDescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIGS. 1-3 are schematics illustrating exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating retrieval of a discount, according toexemplary embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustrating a characteristic of a location,according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 6 is another schematic illustrating retrieval of discounts formultiple reference locations, according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 7 is another schematic illustrating retrieval of discounts at leastpartly associated with an address, according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 8 is another schematic illustrating retrieval of discounts at leastpartly associated with historical location information and/or historicalpurchase information, according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustrating delivery of the discount, accordingto exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustrating expiration of discounts, accordingto exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustrating a coupon, according to exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustrating an associated business entity,according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 13 depicts another possible operating environment for the exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustrating various wireless devices embodyingthe exemplary embodiments; and

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a demographicdiscount to a wireless device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodimentsare shown. The exemplary embodiments may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so thatthis disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey thescope of the exemplary embodiments to those of ordinary skill in theart. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments, as well asspecific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural andfunctional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that suchequivalents include both currently known equivalents as well asequivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed thatperform the same function, regardless of structure).

Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill inthe art that the diagrams, schematics, illustrations, and the likerepresent conceptual views or processes illustrating the exemplaryembodiments. The functions of the various elements shown in the figuresmay be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well ashardware capable of executing associated software. Those of ordinaryskill in the art understand that the exemplary hardware, software,processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are forillustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to anyparticular named manufacturer.

The exemplary embodiments describe methods, systems, and products forproviding a discount to a wireless device. These discounts, however, arebased on demographics and on geographic location. These discounts varyaccording to the demographics of the recipient and according to thedistance from a reference location. A merchant, for example, may wish tooffer discounts to demographically-targeted customers who must travel tothe merchant's physical location. The merchant wishes to target certaindemographics and to provide a greater discount to those customers whomust travel a greater distance. The exemplary embodiments, therefore,describe concepts that provide a discount based on demographics (e.g.,income, age, and/or gender) and on the distance between the customer'swireless device and the merchant's physical location. As the customer'swireless device travels further from the reference location (e.g., themerchant's physical location), the merchant provides a greater discount.The discount is meant to entice the wireless customer to travel to themerchant's physical location and make purchases. The farther thecustomer must travel, the greater the discount the merchant provides

FIGS. 1-3 are schematics illustrating exemplary embodiments. FIG. 1 is aschematic illustrating a query to obtain the location of a wirelessdevice. A discount module 20 comprises methods, systems, computerprograms, and/or computer program products that provide a discount basedon a location of a wireless device 22 and based on a demographicindicator associated with the wireless device 22. The discount module 20operates within any computer system, such as a computer server 24. Thediscount module 20 issues a location query 26 to determine the locationof the wireless device 22. The discount module 20 then receives alocation response 28, and the location response 28 includes informationthat represents the location of the wireless device 22. The locationresponse 28 may represent the current location of the wireless device10, or the location response 28 may represent a recent location of thewireless device 10. Both the location query 26 and the location response28 communicate via a communications network 30. The communicationsnetwork 30 may be a distributed computing network, such as the Internet(sometimes alternatively known as the “World Wide Web”), an intranet, alocal-area network (LAN), and/or a wide-area network (WAN). Thecommunications network 30 may alternatively or additionally include acable network operating in the radio-frequency domain and/or theInternet Protocol (IP) domain. The communications network 30, however,may also include portions of the Public Switched Telephone Network(PSTN). The communications network 30 may include coaxial cables, copperwires, fiber optic lines, and/or hybrid-coaxial lines. Thecommunications network 30 may even include wireless portions utilizingany portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and any signaling standard(such as the various cellular standards CDMA, TDMA, GSM, and/or theI.E.E.E. 802 family of standards).

The discount module 20 obtains the location of the wireless device 22.The location query 26 may communicate to a location server 32. Thelocation server 32 is a computer system and/or a database that storeslocation information for the wireless device 22. The location query 26may additionally or alternatively communicate to a service provider 34for the location of the wireless device 22. The location query 26 mayadditionally or alternatively query the wireless device 22 for itscurrent or recent location. The location of the wireless device 22 maybe determined using a global positioning system, triangulation, timedsignals, and/or the Doppler effect. The Doppler effect describes motionbetween a time-harmonic source and a receiver, is known in the art, andthus will not be further explained. If the reader wishes to learn moreabout the Doppler effect, the reader is directed to DAVID K. CHENG,FIELD AND WAVE ELECTROMAGNETICS 360-361 (1990), incorporated herein byreference. How the location of the wireless device is determined isbeyond the scope of this patent. Those of ordinary skill in the artrecognize that various methods of locating the wireless device 22 areknown and will not be further discussed.

The discount module 20 receives the location response 28 via thecommunications network 30. The location response 28 includes informationthat represents the location of the wireless device 22. The locationresponse 28 may represent the current or a recent location of thewireless device 10. Once the location of the wireless device 22 isknown, the discount module 20 then uses the location to retrieve theappropriate discount 36. The discount 36 is at least partly based on thelocation, such that the discount 36 increases as a distance from areference location increases. When the reference location represents amerchant's physical location (e.g., a grocery store, a retailer's store,a movie cinema, etc.), the merchant provides the discount 36 based onthe distance between the wireless device 22 and the merchant's physicallocation. As the wireless device 22 travels further from the referencelocation (e.g., the merchant's physical location), the merchant providesa greater discount. The discount 36 is meant to entice the wirelesscustomer to travel to the merchant's physical location and makepurchases. The farther the customer must travel, the greater thediscount the merchant provides.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating a query to obtain a demographicassociated with the wireless device 22. Once the location of thewireless device 22 is known, the discount module 20 then issues ademographic query 200 to acquire one or more demographic indicatorsassociated with the wireless device 22. The discount module 20 thenreceives a demographic response 202, and the demographic response 202includes information that represents a demographic indicator 204associated with the wireless device 22. The demographic response 202 mayrepresent some demographic indicator 204 associated with the wirelessdevice 22. The demographic indicator 204 may represent some informationthat indicates a demographic of a subscriber or user associated with thewireless device. The demographic indicator 204 may represent an address,income, gender, age, nationality, employment, education, or any otherinformation that helps tailor the discount 36 to potential customers.

Both the demographic query 200 and the demographic response 202 arecommunicated via the communications network 30. The demographic query200 may be communicated to a demographic server 206. According to anexemplary embodiment, the demographic server 206 is a computer systemand/or a database that stores demographic information related to thewireless device 22. The demographic query 200 may additionally oralternatively communicate to a service provider 208 for the demographicindicator associated with the wireless device 22. The demographic query200 may additionally or alternatively query the wireless device 22 forthe demographic indicator 204 self-stored in the wireless device 22.

The demographic response 202 describes the demographic indicator 204.The demographic response 202, for example, may describe an addressassociated with the wireless device 22. The address may be a billingaddress of a subscriber, a current address of the wireless device 22, orany other address associated with the wireless device 22. The addressmay be any of a house/building number, a street name, a city, a state, aZIP code, and/or a country. The demographic response 202 mayadditionally or alternatively describe an income associated with thewireless device. The income may be that of the subscriber, thesubscriber's spouse and/or children, and/or the subscriber's householdincome. The income may also be a business revenue/income associated withthe subscriber. The demographic response 202 may additionally oralternatively describe a gender associated with the wireless device,such as the subscriber's gender, the subscriber's partner's gender,and/or the subscriber's children's gender. The term “gender” may eveninclude pets associated with the subscriber.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustrating geographic zones 38, according toexemplary embodiments. The discount module 20 determines which zonerepresents the location of the wireless device. The discount module 20then analyzes the demographic indicator 204 (from the demographicresponse 202) and retrieves the corresponding discount 40. Thecorresponding discount 40 is related to both the geographic zone 38 andto the demographic indicator 204. Each zone and demographic indicatorcorresponds to a particular discount. When the reference locationcorresponds to a merchant's physical location, those zones that arefurther from the merchant's store may be assigned a greater discount.The discount 36 is based on the location and on the demographicindicator, such that the discount 36 increases as the distance from themerchant's store increases. As the wireless device (shown as referencenumeral 22 in FIG. 1) travels further from the reference location (e.g.,the merchant's physical location), the merchant provides a greaterdiscount. The discounts 40 entice the wireless customer to travel to themerchant's physical location and make purchases. The farther thecustomer must travel, the greater the discount.

FIG. 4 further illustrates retrieval of the discount 36. Here thediscount module 20 computes a distance r (shown as reference numeral 42)between the reference location and the location of the wireless device.The location of the reference location is represented by the coordinates(x_(R), y_(R), z_(R)). The location of the wireless device isrepresented by the coordinates (x_(WD), y_(WD), z_(WD)). The coordinatesmay be grid coordinates. The coordinates may be latitude, longitude, andelevation (such as altitude or azimuth). The coordinates may beexpressed in any x, y, and z coordinate value. These coordinates may beexpressed in U.S. Customary and British Imperial units, such as feet andmiles, or in metric units, such as meters and kilometers. Thecoordinates could also be expressed as position, velocity, and timecoordinates. However the coordinates are expressed, the discount module20 computes the distance r between the corresponding coordinates.Although many methods may be used to compute the distance r, thedistance r may be simply computed usingr=√{square root over (Δx ² +Δy ² +Δz ²)}.See FRANCIS W. SEARS ET AL., UNIVERSITY PHYSICS 10-11 (1976).Substituting the respective coordinates, the distance r between thereference location and the location of the wireless device may becomputed usingr=√{square root over ((x _(WD) −x _(R))²+(y _(WD) −y _(R))²+(z _(WD) −z_(R))²)}{square root over ((x _(WD) −x _(R))²+(y _(WD) −y _(R))²+(z_(WD) −z _(R))²)}{square root over ((x _(WD) −x _(R))²+(y _(WD) −y_(R))²+(z _(WD) −z _(R))²)}.

FIG. 4 also illustrates a data table 44. The data table 44 maps thedistance r (between the reference location and the location of thewireless device) and the demographic indicator 204 to a correspondingdiscount 46. Once the discount module 20 computes the distance r (shownas reference numeral 42) and receives the demographic indicator 204, thediscount module 20 consults the data table 44 and retrieves theappropriate discount 46. Again, as the wireless device (shown asreference numeral 22 in FIG. 1) travels further from the referencelocation (e.g., the merchant's physical location), the merchant providesa greater discount to those people matching the demographic conditions.The discounts 46 entice the wireless customer to travel to themerchant's physical location and make purchases. The farther thecustomer must travel, the greater the discount.

Discounts based on demographics and on distance have many applications.Suppose a luxury retailer wants to entice wealthy customers to travel tothe retailer and to make purchases. The luxury retailer could targetwealthy individuals using a billing address associated with the wirelessdevice, such that predetermined streets or cities are more likely tocontain wealthy individuals. The luxury retailer could alternatively oradditionally obtain automotive information from a motor vehicleregistry, such as a state's licensing agency or department of motorvehicles. The luxury retailer could target all individuals whoregistered owners of BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, and otherhigh-end vehicles. The luxury retailer could also obtain demographicindicators from a local government's property records database. Manycounties provide online access to property tax records. The luxuryretailer could target individuals having a purchase price for a homethat exceeds some value or threshold. The luxury retailer could targetindividuals that pay cash for a home. The luxury retailer could targetindividuals having a large lot or even acreage in suburban areas,indicating these owners may be inclined to build an estate-likeresidence. Whatever the demographic indicator 204, and however it isobtained, the luxury retailer can use the demographic indicator 204 totailor discounts to potential customers. The demographic indicator 204acts as a filter to further refine those wireless customers who receivea distance-based discount.

The demographic indicator 204 can be a great tool for retailers. Thedemographic indicator 204 may help merchants uniquely target customersmost likely to respond to the merchant's discount. Suppose an automotiverepair facility wants to target wireless customers who most likely needautomotive services. The automotive repair facility could target allindividuals owning a car or truck that is more than four (4) years old.The automotive repair facility may assume that newer cars are coveredunder a manufacturer's warranty, so there is little or no success insending discounts to warranty vehicles. The automotive repair facility,instead, wants to target owners of late-model cars that are not coveredby a manufacturer's warranty. The automotive repair facility couldobtain automotive information from a state's online motor vehicleregistry, filtering out those owners of cars that are three years ornewer. The automotive repair facility could then target discounts to theowners of older cards, based on the distance the customer travels to theautomotive repair facility.

The exemplary embodiments may be used effectively thwart sales tocompetitors. Because the discount module 20 may obtain the currentlocation of the wireless device 22, the discount module 20 may inform amerchant when the wireless device 22 enters a competitor's facility. Themerchant may then tactically authorize a discount to the wirelessdevice. The merchant may make the discount so enticing as to thwart asale at the competitor. Suppose, for example, the wireless device 22enters a LOWE'S® Home Improvement store (LOWE'S® is a registeredtrademark of Lowe's Companies, Inc., P.O. Box 1111, North Wilkesboro,N.C. 28656-0001). The discount module 20 informs the competing retailerHOME DEPOT® (© 2004 Homer TLC, Inc.). The retailer HOME DEPOT® maydecide to immediately authorize a discount to thwart any potential saleat LOWE'S®. The discount module 20 then retrieves and communicates thediscount 46 to the wireless device 22. The discount 46 may be valuedsuch that the customer leaves the LOWE'S® and, instead, drives to HOMEDEPOT® and makes purchases. A ten percent (10%) discount, for example,may thwart the potential sale at the competitor and, instead, entice thecustomer to leave and drive to the competitor's store.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustrating a characteristic 230 of the location,according to exemplary embodiments. Once the location of the wirelessdevice 22 is known (represented by the location response 28), thediscount module 20 may also query for characteristics of that location.The discount may then be based at least partly on the characteristics oflocation. If, for example, the wireless device 22 is currently locatedParis, France, the subscriber may wish to receive discounts forrestaurants in the vicinity. The subscriber may wish to receive adiscount for a travel book at a local bookstore. Tour guides, museums,and other attractions may wish to communicate a discount to the wirelessdevice. FIG. 5, then, illustrates the discount module issuing acharacteristic query 232 to a location characteristic server 234. Thelocation characteristic server 234 stores characteristics associatedwith locations. The characteristics may include any information,merchants, businesses, attractions, services, or persons who wish to beassociated with a particular location. The discount module 20 receives acharacteristic response 236, and the characteristic response 236includes information representing the one or more characteristics 230associated with the location coordinates. The discount module 20 thenretrieves the discount based on the location, on the demographicindicator, and on the characteristic of the location.

FIG. 6 is another schematic illustrating retrieval of discounts. FIG. 6is similar to FIG. 4, although FIG. 6 illustrates that discounts may beretrieved for multiple reference locations. Here the data table 44illustrates discounts for multiple merchants, with each discountingdepending upon the demographics associated with the wireless device anddepending upon the distance. When the discount module 20 obtains thelocation of the wireless device (via the location response shown asreference numeral 28 in FIG. 1), the discount module 20 computes thedistance r between multiple reference locations and the location of thewireless device. Using the previous examples, multiple merchants mayprovide discounts based on distance and based on demographics. Thediscount module 20 obtains the computes the distance r to eachmerchant's physical location. The discount module 20 then consults thedata table 44 and retrieves the appropriate discount 46 for eachmerchant. This example lends itself to a cluster of merchants, such asshopping mall, which want to entice the wireless customer to travel andto make purchases. Some demographics may receive a greater discount,depending upon the distance they must travel.

FIG. 7 is another schematic illustrating retrieval of discounts. Here,however, the discounts are at least partly associated with an addressassociated with the wireless device. When the discount module 20 issuesthe location query (shown as reference numeral 26 in FIG. 1) todetermine the location of the wireless device 22, the discount module 20also issues an address query 210. The address query 210 communicates viathe communications network 30 to the service provider 34 for an addressassociated with the wireless device 22. The address query 210 mayadditionally or alternatively communicate via the communications network30 to the wireless device 22 itself, wherein the wireless device 22self-provides the address. However the address is obtained, an addressresponse 212 is received. The address response 212 contains informationthat represents the address associated with the wireless device 22.

Now that an address is known, the address may be used to determine if adiscount is needed. If the address has a particular zip code, streetaddress, or city, that information can be used to demographically selectthe discount. If, for example, the address indicates a wealthydemographic, perhaps no discount is needed to entice the wirelesscustomer. If, on the other hand, the address indicates a less affluentdemographic, the current location information may be discounted, or evendiscarded, when retrieving the discount. A domestic worker, such as ahousekeeper or groundskeeper, may have a wealthy current location,however, a needy billing address. The merchant may thus elect to providea discount based partly, or even solely, on the distance between thebilling address and the merchant's physical location.

The address may also be used to decline a discount. When the addressindicates a wealthy demographic, as mentioned above, no discount may beneeded to entice the wireless customer. If, however, the address isclose to a competitor's store, the merchant may determine that thediscount has little effect. Perhaps the wireless customer will alwaysshop the competitor's closer location, so only an unusually largediscount would entice the customer. Moreover, the necessary discount mayerase any profitability, and/or the expense of offering the discount isgreater that the potential profit. For whatever reason(s), the addressmay be used to decline a discount.

FIG. 8 is another schematic illustrating retrieval of discounts. Here,however, the discounts are at least partly associated with historicallocation information and/or historical purchase information. If thewireless device has before been in the merchant's store, that historicallocation information may be useful to the merchant. That historicallocation information may be used to identify the customer's purchasingtrends. Similarly, the customer's historical purchase information mayindicate purchasing trends. If the wireless device's historical locationinformation indicates a frequent customer, perhaps no discount, or asmaller discount, is desired. Likewise, the historical purchaseinformation may indicate a frequent customer, so the merchant's discountstrategy may change.

FIG. 8, then, illustrates obtaining historical location informationand/or historical purchase information associated with the wirelessdevice (shown as reference numeral 22 in FIG. 1). When the discountmodule 20 receives the location response (shown as reference numeral 28in FIG. 1) (representing the location of the wireless device 22), thediscount module 20 may also query a historical location database 52and/or a historical purchase database 54. The historical locationdatabase 52 stores information representing a proximity of the wirelessdevice to the reference location. The historical location database 52stores one or more occasions when a location of the wireless devicematches, or is within a predetermined range, of the reference location.The historical purchase database 54 stores information representinghistorical purchases associated with the wireless device, the address,and/or the wireless customer. By querying one or both of thesedatabases, the merchant can refine their pricing strategy based on eachindividual customer.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustrating delivery of the discount, accordingto exemplary embodiments. Once the appropriate discount is retrieved,the discount module 20 then communicates that discount 56 to thecustomer. The discount module 20 addresses a communication 58 to thecustomer. The communication 58 contains the retrieved discount. (If thediscount module determines that no discount is necessary, then perhapsno communication is needed.) The communication 58 may be an email, atext message, an instant message, a telephone call, and/or an InternetProtocol telephone call. The communication 58 may communicate via thecommunications network 30 to the wireless device 22. The communication58, however, may additionally or alternatively communicate via thecommunications network 30 to an alternate communications addressassociated with the wireless customer and/or the wireless device (suchas an email account, a pager address, or a telephone number). Thecommunication 58 may also include a direct mail solicitation to thebilling address associated with the wireless device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustrating an expiration 250 of discounts,according to exemplary embodiments. Once the appropriate discount isretrieved, the discount module 20 then communicates that discount 56 tothe customer. Here, however, the discount 56 expires after a predefinedtime. The expiration 250 may be chosen to effectively incentivize thesubscriber to make purchases. If the discount expires within minutes,the subscriber may feel a sense of urgency and rush to make purchases.If the discount expires after a certain number of days, then thesubscriber may delay those purchases to a more convenient time. Themerchant may thus adjust sales revenue based upon the expiration 250. Aquickly expiring discount may provoke a short term surge in sales, whilea longer lasting discount would produce a steady increase in sales. Theexpiration 250 may even be tied to an inventory management system toensure adequate inventory is on hand to meet sales.

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustrating a coupon 260, according to exemplaryembodiments. Once the appropriate discount is retrieved, the discountmodule 20 then communicates that discount 56 to the customer. Here,however, the discount 56 comprises a coupon 260. The coupon 260 may beinteractive, requiring some action on behalf of the subscriberassociated with the wireless device 22. The interactive coupon 260, forexample, may require the subscriber answer some marketing-relatedquestions. The coupon 260 may require a test drive of a new car. Thecoupon 260 may require the subscriber purchase a particular product toreceive the discount. The coupon 260 may include any conditions orrequirements before the discount 56 may be applied to a purchase. Thecoupon 260 may also relate to the location of the wireless device 22,such as a coupon for reduced theater tickets in Paris (as explainedabove).

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustrating an associated business entity 270,according to exemplary embodiments. Here the discount module 20 providesa discount to related businesses of a merchant. Once the location of thewireless device 22 is known (represented by the location response 28),the discount module 20 may also query for related businesses, entities,or affiliates. Discounts may then be offered to those relatedbusinesses, entities, or affiliates. Suppose, for example, the wirelessdevice 22 is currently located in a HOME DEPOT© store. Once the discountmodule 20 obtains this location, the discount module 20 would then offerdiscounts to other businesses that are affiliated with HOME DEPOT©. Thesubscriber, for example, may receive a discount or coupon for an EXPO©store that is affiliated with the corporate parent. SEARS® and KMART®,as another example, may offer discounts or coupons to wirelesscustomers. Even businesses that are not corporately related maycooperate and offer discounts for wireless customers. Restaurants anddepartment stores, for example, may choose to target demographicallysimilar customers by mutually sending discounts/coupons based onlocation. Theme parks and hotels could mutually target customers basedon location. If a wireless customer enters the theme park, the themepark may send a coupon to entice the customer to book a hotel room.

FIG. 12, then, illustrates the discount module 20 issuing an associatedbusiness query 272 to an associated business server 274. The associatedbusiness server 274 stores related businesses, persons, and entities.The discount module 20 receives an associated business response 276, andthe associated business response 276 includes information representingthe an associated business entity 270. The discount module 20 thenretrieves the discount based on the related business.

FIG. 13 depicts another possible operating environment for the exemplaryembodiments. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the discount module 20residing in a computer system 60. The computer system 60 may be anycomputing system, such as the computer server (shown as referencenumeral 24 in FIGS. 1-12), an IP network element such as an IProuter/switch/hub/gateway/proxy, or any other computer device. As FIG.13 shows, the discount module 20 operates within a system memory device.The discount module 20, for example, is shown residing in a memorysubsystem 62. The discount module 20, however, could also reside inflash memory 64 or a peripheral storage device 66, or in firmware orhardware, or in any combination. The computer system 60 also has one ormore central processors 68 executing an operating system. The operatingsystem,.as is well known, has a set of instructions that control theinternal functions of the computer system 60. A system bus 70communicates signals, such as data signals, control signals, and addresssignals, between the central processor 68 and a system controller 72(typically called a “Northbridge”). The system controller 72 provides abridging function between the one or more central processors 68, agraphics subsystem 74, the memory subsystem 62, and a PCI (PeripheralController Interface) bus 76. The PCI bus 76 is controlled by aPeripheral Bus Controller 78. The Peripheral Bus Controller 78(typically called a “Southbridge”) is an integrated circuit that servesas an input/output hub for various peripheral ports. These peripheralports are shown including a keyboard port 80, a mouse port 82, a serialport 84 and/or a parallel port 86 for a video display unit, one or moreexternal device ports 88, and networking ports 90 (such as SCSI orEthernet). The Peripheral Bus Controller 78 also includes an audiosubsystem 92. Those of ordinary skill in the art understand that theprogram, processes, methods, and systems described in this patent arenot limited to any particular computer system or computer hardware.

Those of ordinary skill in the art also understand the central processor68 is typically a microprocessor. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., forexample, manufactures a full line of ATHLON™ microprocessors (ATHLON™ isa trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., One AMD Place, P.O. Box3453, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94088-3453, 408.732.2400, 800.538.8450,www.amd.com). The Intel Corporation also manufactures a family of X86and P86 microprocessors (Intel Corporation, 2200 Mission College Blvd.,Santa Clara, Calif. 95052-8119, 408.765.8080, www.intel.com). Othermanufacturers also offer microprocessors. Such other manufacturersinclude Motorola, Inc. (1303 East Algonquin Road, P.O. Box A3309Schaumburg, Ill. 60196, www.Motorola.com), International BusinessMachines Corp. (New Orchard Road, Armonk, N.Y. 10504, (914) 499-1900,www.ibm.com), and Transmeta Corp. (3940 Freedom Circle, Santa Clara,Calif. 95054, www.transmeta.com). Those skilled in the art furtherunderstand that the program, processes, methods, and systems describedherein are not limited to any particular manufacturer's centralprocessor.

A preferred operating system, according to an exemplary embodiment, isthe UNIX® operating system (UNIX® is a registered trademark of the OpenSource Group, www.opensource.org). Other UNIX-based operating systems,however, are also suitable, such as LINUX® or a RED HAT® LINUX-basedsystem (LINUX® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds, and RED HAT®is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc., Research Triangle Park,N.C., 1-888-733-4281, www.redhat.com). Other operating systems, however,are also suitable. Such other operating systems would include aWINDOWS-based operating system (WINDOWS® is a registered trademark ofMicrosoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond Wash. 98052-6399,425.882.8080, www.Microsoft.com). and Mac® OS (Mac® is a registeredtrademark of Apple Computer, Inc., 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, Calif.95014, 408.996.1010, www.apple.com). Example operating systems of IPnetwork elements including IP routers/switches/hubs/gateways/proxiesinclude Cisco IOS (Internet Operating System), Vxworks, variousproprietary OS's, and variations of UNIX. Those of ordinary skill in theart again understand that the program, processes, methods, and systemsdescribed herein are not limited to any particular operating system.

The system memory device (shown as memory subsystem 62, flash memory 64,or peripheral storage device 66) may also contain an applicationprogram. The application program cooperates with the operating systemand with a video display unit (via the serial port 84 and/or theparallel port 86) to provide a Graphical User Interface (GUI). TheGraphical User Interface typically includes a combination of signalscommunicated along the keyboard port 80 and the mouse port 82. TheGraphical User Interface provides a convenient visual and/or audibleinterface with a user of the computer system 60.

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustrating still more embodiments. FIG. 14illustrates that the discount module 20 may alternatively oradditionally operate within various wireless devices. As FIG. 14 shows,the discount module 20 may operate in a personal digital assistant (PDA)93, a Global Positioning System (GPS) device 94, an interactivetelevision 96, an Internet Protocol (EP) phone 98, a pager 100, acellular/satellite phone 102, or any computer system and/orcommunications device utilizing a digital signal processor (DSP) 104.The wireless device may also include watches, radios, vehicleelectronics, clocks, printers, gateways, and other apparatuses andsystems. The discount module may also be physically embodied on or inany addressable (e.g., HTTP, I.E.E.E. 802.11, Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP)) wire line or wireless device capable of presenting an IPaddress. Examples could include a computer, a wireless personal digitalassistant (PDA), an Internet Protocol mobile phone, or a wireless pager.

The discount module may be physically embodied on or in acomputer-readable medium. This computer-readable medium may includeCD-ROM, DVD, tape, cassette, floppy disk, memory card, andlarge-capacity disk (such as IOMEGA®, ZIP®, JAZZ®, and otherlarge-capacity memory products (IOMEGA®, ZIP®, and JAZZ® are registeredtrademarks of Iomega Corporation, 1821 W. Iomega Way, Roy, Utah 84067,801.332.1000, www.iomega.com). This computer-readable medium, or media,could be distributed to end-users, licensees, and assignees. These typesof computer-readable media, and other types not mention here butconsidered within the scope of the claims, allow the discount module tobe easily disseminated. A computer program product providing ademographic discount to a wireless device comprises a computer readablemedium including the computer-readable instructions. These instructionsobtain a location of the wireless device and a demographic indicatorassociated with the wireless device. A discount is retrieved frommemory, and the discount is based on the location and on the demographicindicator. The discount increases as a distance from a referencelocation increases.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a discount toa wireless device. A location of the wireless device is obtained (Block110). A demographic indicator associated with the wireless device isalso obtained (Block 112). The distance between a reference location andthe location of the wireless device is computed (Block 114). A discountis retrieved from memory (Block 116). The discount is based on thelocation and on the demographic indicator (Block 118), with the discountincreasing as a distance from a reference location increases.

While exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been describedwith respect to various features, aspects, and embodiments, thoseskilled and unskilled in the art will recognize the invention is not solimited. Other variations, modifications, and alternative embodimentsmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

1. A method of providing a discount to a device, comprising: obtaining alocation of the device; determining a distance between the location anda reference location; obtaining a characteristic of the location;obtaining a billing address and a zone improvement plan code associatedwith the device; retrieving a demographic indicator associated with thezone improvement plan code; and retrieving the discount from memory, thediscount based on the distance and on the demographic indicatorassociated with the zone improvement plan code, such that the discountincreases as the distance from the reference location increases.
 2. Amethod according to claim 1, wherein when the demographic indicatorindicates wealth, then declining to provide the discount to the device.3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: retrieving anincome associated with the zone improvement plan code; comparing theincome to a threshold value; and targeting the discount based on theincome.
 4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising obtainingautomotive information from a motor vehicle registry and targeting thediscount to owners of a brand of vehicle.
 5. A method according to claim1, wherein retrieving the demographic indicator comprises retrieving apurchase price of a home from a property records database and comparingthe purchase price to a threshold value.
 6. A method according to claim1, further comprising: obtaining automotive information from a motorvehicle registry; filtering out vehicles newer than a number of years;and targeting the discount to according to the demographic indicatorsand the distance.
 7. A system for providing a discount to a device, thesystem comprising: means for obtaining a location of the device; meansfor determining a distance between the location and a referencelocation; means for obtaining a characteristic of the location; meansfor obtaining a billing address and a zone improvement plan codeassociated with the device; means for retrieving a demographic indicatorassociated with the zone improvement plan code; and means for retrievingthe discount from memory, the discount based on the distance and on thedemographic indicator associated with the zone improvement plan code,such that the discount increases as the distance from the referencelocation increases.
 8. A system according to claim 7, wherein when thedemographic indicator indicates wealth, then further comprising meansfor declining to provide the discount to the device.
 9. A systemaccording to claim 7, further comprising: means for retrieving an incomeassociated with the zone improvement plan code; means for comparing theincome to a threshold value; and means for targeting the discount basedon the income.
 10. A system according to claim 7, further comprisingmeans for obtaining automotive information from a motor vehicle registryand targeting the discount to owners of a brand of vehicle.
 11. A systemaccording to claim 7, further comprising means for retrieving a purchaseprice of a home from a property records database and comparing thepurchase price to a threshold.
 12. A system according to claim 7,further comprising: obtaining automotive information from a motorvehicle registry; filtering out vehicles newer than a number of years;and targeting the discount to according to the demographic indicatorsand the distance.
 13. A computer program product storingcomputer-readable instructions for performing a method of providing adiscount to a device, the method comprising: obtaining a location of thedevice; determining a distance between the location and a referencelocation; obtaining a characteristic of the location; obtaining abilling address and a zone improvement plan code associated with thedevice; retrieving a demographic indicator associated with the zoneimprovement plan code; and retrieving the discount from memory, thediscount based on the distance and on the demographic indicatorassociated with the zone improvement plan code, such that the discountincreases as the distance from the reference location increases.
 14. Acomputer program product according to claim 13, wherein when thedemographic indicator indicates wealth, then declining to provide thediscount to the device.
 15. A computer program product according toclaim 13, further comprising further comprising: retrieving an incomeassociated with the zone improvement plan code; comparing the income toa threshold value; and targeting the discount based on the income.
 16. Acomputer program product according to claim 13, further comprisingobtaining automotive information from a motor vehicle registry andtargeting the discount to owners of a brand of vehicle.
 17. A computerprogram product according to claim 13, wherein retrieving thedemographic indicator comprises retrieving a purchase price of a homefrom a property records database and comparing the purchase price to athreshold value.